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Detector Dogs are important partners of Customs officers in the battle against drug traffickers. After the "911" terrorist attacks, the Customs and Excise Department also deploys detector dogs specially trained to detect explosives. There are 50 detector dogs, including 48 drug detector dogs and 2 explosive detector dogs being deployed for the mission to detecting drugs and explosives at the airport, land boundary control points and container terminals.

Types

Proactive Detector Dogs

They respond upon detection of drugs by scratching onto or barking to the object. They are deployed to screen cargoes at Customs checkpoints.

Passive-alert Detector Dogs

They respond upon detection of drugs by reacting in a non-intrusive way e.g. sit quietly in front of the object. They are deployed to screen travellers and personal baggage at Customs checkpoints.

Dual Purpose Detector Dogs

They have the abilities of Proactive Dogs and Passive-alert Dogs and are deployed to screen both travellers and cargoes at Customs checkpoints.

Explosive Detector Dogs

They are deployed to search suspicious objects containing explosive substances.

Origins and training places

Customs Detector Dogs are mainly originated from the Mainland, the United Kingdom and Canada. They received basic detector dog training from their respective training institutes before joining the Customs and Excise Department. Besides, a few detector dogs are adopted from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department and are successfully trained as detector dogs.